t he won't give his name, or say what he wants."

Higson ordered Tim Nolan, who was acting as quartermaster, to go down
and ascertain who the man was.

"Arrah, sir, it's not a living being at all!" shouted Tim; "he's one of
the poor fellows who slipped his cable in the cholera on board the
transports, and the sooner he's made to go back where he come from the
better, seeing he isn't altogether pleasant company to living men."

Higson was of Tim's opinion, and, ordering a shot to be securely slung,
he directed Tim to make it fast round the neck of the corpse; this was
quickly done, and the unwelcome visitor disappeared beneath the surface.

Many other similar occurrences took place, to the great annoyance of the
seamen, as well as of the soldiers, and made them all the more anxious
to get away from the spot beneath which lay so many of their unhappy
countrymen. The English fleet having an ample supply of transports, no
troops were taken on board the men-of-war, which were thus left free for
action; but the French having secured only small vessels, their
men-of-war were so encumbered with troops that they were ill prepared to
go into action should the Russian fleet come out to attack them. The
information was received with unmitigated satisfaction on board the
British men-of-war, and all hoped that the Russians, gaining courage,
would venture from beneath their fortifications, as on the English fleet
would devolve the honour of engaging them.

To every English sailing-ship-of-war a steamer was attached. The
English army was under the command of Lord Raglan; Admiral Dundas had
his flag flying on board the _Britannia_; while Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, in the _Agamemnon_, had charge of the transports. To each vessel
was assigned her particular place, so that there might be no confusion.
It was generally believed that the Russian fleet would sail out of
Sebastopol and intercept the flotilla, and that they would have to bear
the brunt of the fight. The masters of the transports were accordingly
called on board the _Emperor_, the largest of their squadron, where the
admiral's instructions were read to them, and they were asked whether
they would willingly take a part in the naval engagement, should one be
brought on. Having satisfied themselves that their widows would receive
compensation should they fall, they replied to the question with three
hearty British cheers. Thus were the preparations made for the
contemplat